NEW YORK — Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka harnessed her powerful serve to subdue American Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-5 and capture the Cincinnati Open, sending a message ahead of the year’s final major in New York.
The twice Australian Open dropped only nine points on serve and hit 10 aces as she overcame some jitters late in the second set in an otherwise confident performance to pick up her sixth WTA 1000 title.
Sabalenka’s win ended Pegula’s nine-match win streak, which began with the American’s title run at the National Bank Open last week.
Pegula was bidding to become the first woman in over 50 years to sweep titles in Canada and Cincinnati in a single season, according to wtatennis.
After beating Paula Badosa in the semi-finals, Pegula became just the third American in the Open Era to make the finals of both tournaments, joining Serena Williams and Rosie Casals.
In their seventh career meeting and first in a tournament final, Sabalenka continued her dominating effort at the service line to keep Pegula under relentless pressure. Pegula was taken to deuce in her first three service games, with Sabalenka securing the sole break of the set to lead 3-1.
In contrast, Sabalenka lost just four points on her own serve and served over 70 percent of her first serves in.
Sabalenka continued her disciplined effort in the second set. She broke Pegula straight out of the gate and consolidated with a love hold to lead 2-0.
But after rolling through four consecutive service games without losing a point, Sabalenka played a tight service game to get broken to 5-5.
Sabalenka responded by breaking Pegula for a third and final time, closing out the 75-minute win with a clean service hold. She finished the match with 29 winners, including 10 aces, to 23 unforced errors.
Sabalenka’s victory sealed a perfect week for the 26-year-old. She did not lose a set across her five victories, which included her first straight-set victory over No.1 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals. With wins over Swiatek and Pegula, she improved to 5-4 against Top 10 opposition this season.
Pegula had appeared to be in good form after she retained her title in Toronto earlier this month but she struggled with her serve, with five double faults.
Sabalenka got the break in the fourth game after Pegula whacked a forehand into the net and the Belarusian built on the momentum with a hold to love in the fifth, closing out the first set with an unreturnable serve.
She sent over a barrage of powerful forehands to get another break in the opening game of the second set but helped Pegula to get her lone break point with a double fault and a pair of unforced errors in the 10th game.
Sabalenka broke back immediately, however, and blew kisses to the crowd after she forced her opponent into an error on match point.
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